Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1900 — ILLINOISAN HAS AN UGLY FACE. [ARTICLE]

ILLINOISAN HAS AN UGLY FACE.

It Caused a Humorous Incident When Its Owner Visited Gotham. George Geiger was said to be the ugliest man in Illinois. He kept a country store in Versailles, a little town in this State, in the early days and made a. large fortune. He spent his money freely and was a jolly good fellow. But his face! It made the children cry to look at it! Geiger went to New York in the days of his prosperity and there was not much that he did not see. The first Sunday he was in town he went to Trinity Church and seated himself in an empty pew well forward. While the first lesson was being read a stranger entered. Geiger politely made room and passed over a prayer book. The stranger scowled and, taking a pencil from his pocket, wrote on the fly leaf: “This is my pew." Geiger wrote back: “Damne<L'fine pew; what will you take for it?” This settled the Christian gentleman and he did not bother Geiger again. At the conclusion of the service the owner of the pew put out his hand to Geiger and begged his pardon for his rudeness and lack of Christian hospitality. “That's all right,” said Geiger; “It’s my face, as usual, that was the cause of it.” From that time flie two men were fast friends, and together had many a laugh over their first meeting.—Chicago Chfqnfcle.